AI is the enabler: Turning data, workflows, and decisions into competitive advantage

Artificial Intelligence is becoming increasingly accessible, but technology alone does not create sustainable competitive advantage. As AI capabilities evolve, the real differentiator lies in how organizations combine proprietary data, integrated workflows, and human judgment to drive measurable business impact.

At the METRO AI Summit 2026, Lutz Finger, Chief AI Officer at OMMAX, explored how AI is already transforming business operations and what organizations must prioritize to turn technological capabilities into long-term value.

From AI adoption to competitive advantage

Using the journey of a Schnitzel as an example, Lutz demonstrated how AI is already embedded across the value chain, from demand forecasting and logistics to computer vision, predictive maintenance, and increasingly autonomous workflows.

As AI models become more capable and widely available, however, access to the technology itself is no longer sufficient to differentiate an organization.

Instead, sustainable competitive advantage increasingly depends on three factors:

• Proprietary data and workflows: Leveraging unique customer information, operational insights, and business processes that competitors cannot easily replicate.
• Integration across systems and processes: Connecting AI capabilities with existing infrastructure and redesigning workflows to translate technological potential into measurable business value.
• Human judgment and strategic direction: Identifying where AI creates the greatest impact and ensuring technology supports the organization's broader strategic objectives.

Building sustainable value with AI

The opportunity for organizations is not simply to deploy more AI tools, but to embed AI into the processes and decisions that define their competitive positioning.

While AI can analyze information, automate tasks, and support increasingly complex workflows, business leaders remain responsible for determining where to focus, which opportunities to pursue, and how to translate technological capabilities into meaningful outcomes.

The key takeaway: AI is the enabler. Your data, workflows, and decisions create the advantage.

Watch the full keynote

Discover Lutz Finger's perspective on how organizations can move beyond AI experimentation and build sustainable competitive advantage through data, integration, and human judgment.